Presidents and the American Presidency

by Cox Han, Lori; Heith, Diane J.

• ISBN13: 9780195385168
• ISBN10: 0195385160
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-12-10
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

There is perhaps no political position as unique as the American presidency. This book considers both the strengths and weaknesses of the presidency as a political institution as well as the those of recent presidents and their leadership skills to examine the "real" presidency; that is, notjust the theoretical analysis of the institution or assessments of the men who have served as president, but the actual day-to-day responsibilities and challenges that go with the job. To showcase the "real" aspects of the presidency, as well as the differences between individual and institutionalperspectives on decision making, the authors incorporate archival documents from multiple administrations to reveal the inner workings of the White House. The documents and oral histories at presidential libraries and other archives represent a virtual treasure trove of detailed analysis and stories of what actually happened, not only publicly but behind the scenes, in each presidential administration. These documents allow a president and/or membersof his administration, through their own words, to animate the discussions in each chapter from the perspective of political actors who were actually present to understand and appreciate the depth and breadth of presidential power and leadership in the 21st century.

Author Biography

Lori Cox Han is Professor of Political Science at Chapman University. She is the author of A Presidency Upstaged (2011) and Women and U.S. Politics, Second Edition (2010), editor of New Directions in the American Presidency (2010), and coeditor of Rethinking Madam President (2007).

Diane J. Heith is Associate Professor and Chair of Government and Politics at St. John's University. She is the author of the forthcoming The Presidential Road Show (2013) and Polling to Govern (2003) and coeditor, with Lori Cox Han, of In the Public Domain (2005).

Table of Contents

Each chapter includes a Conclusion, Suggested Readings, and "On the Web."
Preface
Tables and figures
Chapter 1. Introduction: Studying Presidents and the Presidency
Historical Context
The Traditional Presidency
The Modern Presidency
The Postmodern/Contemporary Presidency
Theories and Methodologies
Classics in Presidential Studies
Newer Methodologies Evolve
The President-Centered Approach
The Presidency-Centered Approach
Sources
Presidential Libraries
Public Papers
Building a Presidential Library: Then . . . and Now
In Their Own Words: Leadership
Chapter 2. Presidents and the Constitution
The Framers' Plan and the Constitutional Convention
Inherited Practices and Ideas
The Framers' World
The Confederation Executive
Federalism
General vs. Limited Authority
Separation of Powers/Checks and Balances
Rule by Elites and the Electoral College
Powers of the Office
The Vesting Clause
Law-Enforcement Authority Authority
Legislative Authority
Appointment and Removal Power
Executive Privilege and Immunity
Expansion of Presidential Powers
Theories of Presidential Power
The Constitutionality of Expanded Presidential Powers
Presidential Pardons: Then . . . and Now
In Their Own Words: The War Powers Resolution
Chapter 3. The Presidential Selection Process
The Nominating Process in Historical Perspective
The Pre-Nomination Period
Deciding to Run
The Invisible Primary
Gaining Party Support
Primaries and Caucuses
Iowa and New Hampshire
Super Tuesday
Financing Presidential Campaigns
Campaign Finance: A Brief History
The Federal Election Campaign Acts of 1971 and 1974
Loopholes to Campaign Finance Laws
Public Funding of Presidential Campaigns
Recent Campaign Finance Reforms
National Party Conventions
The General Election
The Electoral College
Appealing to Voters
Campaign Communications
The Consequences of Winning
The Coalition
The Message and the Mandate
Campaigning vs. Governing
Presidential Nominations: Then . . . and Now
In Their Own Words: The Electoral College Strategy
Chapter 4. The Public Presidency: Communication and Mass Media
The Evolving Rhetorical Presidency
The Radio Era
The Television Age
The Internet Age
Presidential Communication: Strategies and Resources
The Press Office and Press Secretary
The Office of Communications
Speech Writing
Public Events
The President and the Press
The White House Press Corps
Press Conferences
The Media Environment
News Coverage of the President
White House Press Strategies
Addressing the Nation: Then . . . and Now
In Their Own Words: Media Exposure
Chapter 5. The Public Presidency: Public Opinion
A Restrained View of the Public
Evaluating the President
Job Approval
Personal Approval
President Obama and Public Opinion
Popularity as a Source of Presidential Power
Presidential Polling as a Source of Power
Using White House Polls
Tracking the Constituency
Rhetorical Design
Polling to Save a Presidency: Then . . . and Now
In Their Own Words: Presidential Image and Public Opinion
Chapter 6. Presidents and the Legislative Branch
The President's Formal Role in the Legislative Process
Using the Veto
The Legislative Veto
The Line-Item Veto
Recommendations to Congress
Senate Confirmations
Separation of Powers
Staking Out a Role
Creating the Chief Legislator
Sharing Powers
Divergent Constituencies
The Decision-Making Process
Political Parties
Individual Behavior
Veto Politics
Budget Showdowns and Shutdowns: Then . . . and Now
In Their Own Words: Campaigning Against Congress
Chapter 7. Presidents and the Judicial Branch
Nominations to the U.S. Supreme Court
Franklin Roosevelt and the Federal Courts
Tenure and Removal
The Nomination Process
The Confirmation Process
The Confirmation Hearings
Politicizing the Process
Presidential Legacies
Nominations to Lower Federal Courts
Nominating and Confirming Federal Judges
The Candidate Pool
The President's Relationship with the Judicial Branch
The Role of the Solicitor General
Implementing Supreme Court Decisions
Defining Presidential Powers
Selecting a Chief Justice: Then . . . and Now
In Their Own Words: Seeking Justice
Chapter 8. Presidents and the Executive Branch
The Job of the Chief Executive
The Bureaucracy Evolves
The Bureaucracy Today
Separation of Power Creates Conflict
The Cabinet
The Executive Office of the President
Creating the Executive Office of the President
White House Staff
Organizing the White House Staff
The Chief of Staff
Concerns With and Consequences of the EOP
Mechanisms for Presidential Control of the Bureaucracy
Appointments
Budgeting as Management
Executive Orders
Regulatory Review
Signing Statements
Vice Presidents
The History of the Office
The Contemporary Vice Presidency
First Ladies
First Ladies in Historical Perspective
Contemporary First Ladies
Crisis Management: Then . . . and Now
In Their Own Words: Managing the White House
Chapter 9. Presidents and Domestic Policymaking
U.S. Domestic Policy
Policy and Presidential Agendas
Presidents and Domestic Policymaking
Principal Domestic Policymakers
The Evolution of U.S. Domestic Policy
Economic Policy
Social Policy
Social Services
Law Enforcement
Natural Resources and Conservation
Saving the Big Three Automakers: Then . . . and Now
In Their Own Words: Signing Medicare into Law
Chapter 10 Presidents and Foreign Policymaking
U.S. Foreign Policy
Diplomacy vs. National Security
Economic Interests
Presidents and Foreign Policymaking
The Rational-Actor Model
The Political Agenda
Domestic Actors
International Actors
Principal Geopolitical Theaters
The Evolution of U.S. Foreign Policy
The Early Republic through World War I
World War II and the Cold War
The Post-Soviet World
War and U.S. Foreign Policy
Nation Building: Then . . . and Now
In Their Own Words: The Aftermath of the Cuban Missile Crisis
Appendix A. Conducting Research at Presidential Libraries
Appendix B. The United States Constitution
Appendix C. Presidential Elections Results, 1789-2012
Notes
Bibliography
Index